Siegel
A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a maker of wax seals or signet rings.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 25,021 Americans carry the last name Siegel. That puts it at #1,674 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.30 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,699 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Siegel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
25K
1 in 13,699
Census rank
#1,674
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
22K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 21,536 bearers of the surname Siegel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.30 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1674th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Siegel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Siegel
The surname Siegel is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "sigel," meaning "seal" or "signet ring." It likely originated as an occupational name for a seal maker or an engraver of seals and signet rings.
The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations such as Sigel, Sigill, and Sigler. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from Brandenburg, Germany, dating back to 1258, where a person named Conradus Sigel is mentioned.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various city records and tax rolls across German-speaking regions, including the Reichskammergericht (Imperial Chamber Court) records from the 1400s, which mention individuals with the surname Siegel.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname Siegel include Johann Siegel (1500-1572), a German painter and engraver from Nuremberg, and Johann Georg Siegel (1668-1752), a German Lutheran theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Jena.
Another prominent individual was Christian Siegelmair (1703-1768), a German architect and sculptor who designed several churches and buildings in Bavaria, including the Fürstenfeld Abbey Church in Munich.
In the 18th century, the name appeared in various records from the Palatinate region of Germany, with individuals such as Johann Georg Siegel (1738-1808), a Lutheran pastor and author of several religious works.
The name also spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands, where Pieter Siegel (1617-1687) was a notable Dutch Golden Age painter known for his still-life paintings and portraits.
As the name spread across different regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Segel, Sigel, Siegle, and Siegler, reflecting local dialects and linguistic influences.
Overall, the surname Siegel has a rich history dating back to medieval Germany, originating as an occupational name associated with seal makers and engravers, and has since been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including art, religion, and architecture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Siegel
Among Census respondents with the surname Siegel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Siegel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Siegel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.8%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Siegel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,674 | #1,674 | 0.0% |
| Count | 21,536 | 21,536 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.30 | 7.30 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Siegel bearers went from 21,536 to 21,536 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,674 to #1,674.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Siegel
FAQ
Siegel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Siegel?
The surname Siegel holds position #1,674 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 25,021 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.30 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Siegel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Siegel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.